Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019).

NutraPonics Canada Corp., a Alberta-based company, develops an innovative Indoor Vertical Aquaponicsx000D
Farming technology: the NutraPonics Growing System (NGS), a commercial plant and fish production systemx000D
with proprietary growing methods based on the aquaponics for quality food crop production. However, due tox000D
large dimension and internal airflow resistance from the beds and plants, the NGS suffers from unbalancedx000D
distribution of airflow: 20 m/s at the 1st row of beds whereas reduced to zero m/s at the 2nd row, consequentlyx000D
affecting the desirable levels of temperature and humidity near the plants. Lack of airflow and/or high humidityx000D
are found to limit plant transpiration and lead to poor calcium intake for the plants, causing leaf tip burns andx000D
necrosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to optimize their NGS's airflow and thermal conditions for creatingx000D
best growing conditions for the plants.x000D
This project proposes solving the problem by numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamicsx000D
(CFD) techniques. However, in the case the NGS, the problem becomes complicated by the CFD simulationx000D
models based on the porous media models suitable for modeling different plants and for different growthx000D
stages. To keep a balance of simulation accuracy and time, therefore, this project takes a novel approachx000D
through "model verification and simulations" undertaken by four steps of combining "detailed but scaledx000D
simulations" and "simplified full-scale simulations". This project involves many time-consuming CFDx000D
simulations and associated analysis so two research assistants are assigned to undertake the tasksx000D
simultaneously including one postdoctoral fellow and one PhD student. Two site visits at NutraPonics are alsox000D
planned: one for 1st month of the project to collect in-situ modeling information and one for the finalx000D
presentation and future collaborations. This project will contribute significantly to the NGS innovations byx000D
tackling the urgent airflow and thermal management issues to ensure healthy and nutrient-rich growingx000D
environment for achieving high-quality plant crop production, right here home-grown and branded in Canada.